Telegram-herald., 1887-02-13
cIAPTER IN.

It T. quite q o'clock ~ Nadine leaves
the houss in Park lane and turns her
face homeward IL j. yeTy dark for even
an April evening, and the lamps are al
agl0w, making her immediate world -
pretty that she H. rather glad than
otherwise 81 her inability 10 meet with an
empty tram car. aud turning into Plcca-
dilly. walks leisurely down it's piciur
esss:a hill with a thorough appreciation
of the charn,s surrounding hfr. II is inie.
certainly, but WOmen--anisss they 90
hall Way 10 meet it--seldom meet with
impertiuenee, ard Nadine, pTctip and
distinguished az appearance ar she ls.
pursues her WAY ia an even. uninter
ruptai fashion toward Regent circus.
4 great. bulky woman, loaded with
parcels coming somewhat abruptly
against her, stops her progress fer nio-
mcut, and compelling htr 10 sNerse
aside, throws her almost into the arms oi
"A tail man. who very GraFely laid hls
hand upon her arm \ lule slock rult
through Naainc's veins She stops dead
short, and looks up at her companion iu q
dml, stupid way She GROW. deadly
white. and her heart feels a. though il
were about 20 stop beating
"Ahl you' sir Duran, she says
T." she pauses.
IL Is impossible 20 account 10 him in
any natural way for the emotion that is
Ovcrpoweriny her
lie is a man of grave exterior, hardly
good looking, but with a strange earn
est expression. that goes far 10 redeem
the irregularity Of his features. lie
Is about 35, but looks considerably
older than his age, as some men Will
Grief said many, aeed him--his wife
having been taken from him when he
was only 26, and when he had seen
but two anniversaries Of his wedding
day Bat as usual, gossip was wrong;
those two unhappy years of welded bliss
having convinced Mr.. Duran that all
was vanity So far as his wife was con
cerned. In truth, lie had never loved her,
but only learned that fact too late.
There IS n suggestion Of strength in
his whole face, and specially in his
mouth and lower jaw, that makes itself
felt, and would perhaps be oppressive
but for the almost womanisb softness and
gentleness OF his large hazel eyes. a
heavy mustache conceals n handsome
mouth, and IL and tie hair about his
brow are slightly tinged with gray
"Clytie writes 10 me % say she misses
you terribly Mr.. Duran snys presently
They have turned. and are now thread
ing their way slowly through the ever
increasing crowd Conversation under
the circumstances IS difficult.
Dear little thing.' SAYS Nadine
warmly. and more naturally than She has
vet spoken. This other little pupil OF
hers, this little daughter Of the grave
man walking beside her, is very dear to
her. "Tcil her miss her too VIII yOu
tell her that. Mr.. Duran, please, when
YOU write. and that ! count every day TO
the one that VIII bring her back 10 mefn
Il shall tell her
Then lie looks at Nadine keenly. The
cll seems t0 feel the earnestncss Of his
regard. because presently she throws up
her head. as if in challenge, and looks
straight at him.
"You are thinking" she asks rather
defantly
"How impulsively you express your
self. and how tenderly-and how uncer-
tain am whether you mean il or not"
"You give yourself great trouble q
thus study your daughters governess, y
replies she coldly.
They have reached n crossing and a
tram car at the same time.
lyon Will permit me 10 see you homef'
says Mr.. Duran quietly.
"No, thank you There Is no necessity.
! This"-indicating the tram car-''will
leave me almost az my own door
''Still, il you VIII allow net
"You are very kind. bat ! would not
! give you so much troubie for the world. -
There IS n decision about her manner.
! gentle as IL is. not 10 De mistaken.
"As you viii. ~ course. says Mr.. On
| ran, "and having seen her carefully into
the car he draws hack, and lets her pro
coed on her way alone.